NOOR Al Hadi and Al Cobra will clash tonight when the 17th edition of Batelco Ramadan Seven-A-Side Football Tournament gets underway at the Batelco Staff Centre grounds in Al Hamala.

A total of 12 teams are lined up for this year's event, to be organized for the 17th successive year during the month of Ramadan.

Participants include title favourites and former champions Ahli United Bank, who were drawn in Group 'C' along with Majestic Cars and Al Haora.

Al Cobra, Noor Al Hadi and University of Bahrain's Law College will play in Group 'A', while Group 'B' features Riffa Youth, Asry and Arad Youth.

Abdulaziz Al Sabbagh Contracting Company were placed in Group 'D', which also comprises Batelco and the British Council.

The tournament's first round matches are due to commence at 8.15pm when Noor Al Hadi and Al Cobra face off in Group 'A' opener.

In Group 'B', Riffa Youth take on Asry, while favourites Ahli United Bank kick-start their campaign against Majestic Cars in Group 'C'.

Group 'D' opener will see Abdulaziz Al Sabbagh Contracting Company take on the British Council team at 8.30pm.

Each game is 14 minutes divided into two periods of seven minutes and each team should field only seven players with one being on the bench.

Cash prizes will be given away to the winners, with the champions to walk away with BD200 award, while runners-up receive BD100.

Side prizes will also be given away to the top scorer, best player, best goalkeeper, fair play team. A team of referees from the Bahrain Football Association were assigned to manage the matches.

There are nine teams that have already won the title before. They were Al Hamala, Baba Sweets, West Riffa Youth, Bahrain Training Institute, University of Bahrain, Moroccan Corner, Al Nairooz Grills, Ahli United Bank and Al Door Contracting.